The Dh330 million ($89.8 million) multi-phase Al Raha Resort development is taking shape in Abu Dhabi, with work on phase one close to completion and the second phase development now beginning to push above the ground.

The project is located 15 km from the city centre.

Under the first phase launched last year, 23 chalets have been built and are now receiving their finishing touches. Swissboring, part of Italy's Trevi, took the first package covering the piling works and Al-Jaber Transport & General Contracting was awarded a $10 million contract to build the superstructure for the chalets.

The client is the Abu Dhabi Works Department, the consultant is the Dubai-based Test (Technical Studies Bureau) and the project manager is the US' DMJM International.

Under phase two, Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises is carrying out the two main packages, worth Dh160 million ($43.5 million), on the project. These packages cover the construction of a three-storey shopping mall and a beachfront five-star hotel with 90 rooms and 12 suites. The work on this phase commenced in January this year and is due for completion in March, 2003.

The hotel building will have a total built-up area of 48,000 sq m spread over a basement, ground floor and three floors above. The facility will also have a ballroom, nightclub and restaurant with a double-height ground floor.

The basement level will have over 100 parking spaces as well as a state-of-the-art health club, consisting of a Moroccan bath, Aquamadic pool and fully-equipped Jacuzzi, steam and sauna centre with all the related facilities.

In addition, the hotel has squash courts, a gymnasium, an aerobics room as well as an indoor swimming pool on the third floor with an attached gymnasium, steam and sauna facilities.

The shopping mall will have a built-up area of 30,000 sq m. The ground floor of the mall will have the main entrance, lobby and access to the planned beach restaurants. There are also retail areas which connect to the first and second floors through four escalators and a panoramic elevator.

The shopping mall also houses a theatre/cinema connected to the building and the hotel through different entrances.

A special feature of the interior of the shopping mall is its atrium covered with skylights. The external facade has a stone-rendered finish and curtain-walling.

The internal finishes will be mostly of a decorative type including pre-finished GRC for both the buildings.

The Al Raha Resort development also includes a third phase which is expected to include three buildings - one which will be a landmark reaching a height of 100 m - a restaurant attached to shopping mall through an underwater link as well as an artificial marina for up to 10 m boats, a 60-m tower on the breakwater and watersports facilities.